January 9th, Sunday …
A strange-looking phone booth was erected on the top floor of the Huanyu Tianjie Shopping Mall.
This floor was mainly used for movie theaters, claw machines, milk tea shops, and the like.
The strange-looking phone booth was located by the wall on the way to the movie theater. It was easy to see it from the escalator.
The phone booth was made of transparent glass and had good soundproofing. There was also a ventilation vent above to ensure that one would not feel suffocated even if they stayed inside for an hour or two.
On the outside side of the phone booth, the metal frame on both sides of the glass was wider than the rest of the area. It looked like it was intentionally left blank.
This was where Zhang Wang expected artists to display their talents.
As for the other two sides, the left side was more technologically advanced. One could see an electronic display screen through the glass with a poster on it. The poster said 'Advertising for Shared Phone Booth'.
The right side was purposely decorated in the style of a phone booth. One could see a retro phone through the glass.
Apart from that, one could also see other things on the table through the glass. For example, there was a water dispenser, Wi-Fi, three-port charger, bookshelf, and the like.
Since they were not fully prepared, they had not moved the jukebox and water dispenser in time.
Soon, many people gathered around them.
"What's this?"
"I don't think it was here the last time."
"Isn't it written on the billboard? Advertising for Shared Phone Booth."
"Pfft, what's that? Shared phone booth?"
"Hahaha, I'm dying of laughter. What a lame project. Let's take a picture together!"
Soon, many people who came to Huanyu Tianjie took pictures outside the phone booth and posted them on their WeChat Moments to complain.
Many people also tried to find out what the phone booth could do.
This was the first and only shared phone booth in Jingzhou. It was the first 'prototype' that Zhang Wang had been working on in his hometown over the past few days.
The first batch of products that he had ordered from the manufacturer had not been delivered yet. To see the effects of the shared phone booth as soon as possible, Zhang Wang decided to move his' prototype 'over to test the waters.
He found a moving company during the process, and the installation was rather convenient. It was completed in just over an hour.
Huanyu Tianjie was one of Jingzhou City's core business districts. There was definitely a high flow of people. This was also a test to see if people could accept this new thing.
Soon, a couple took out their phones and scanned the QR code on the phone booth door.
"F * ck, so expensive?" The boy was a little confused.
After scanning the QR code, a rather simple page appeared on the screen. It was obviously made in a hurry, and the shared phone booth's charging standards were listed.
All the items in the phone booth were bundled together. They were billed every 15 minutes, and each 15 minutes cost 10 yuan.
That was the price of an hour at Fish-Catching Internet Cafe.
You could use your social media account or mobile phone number to quickly log in, but if you wanted to use it, you had to pay first because the shared phone booths didn't take into account the user's deposit.
After payment, the phone booth's door would automatically open. After the user entered the phone booth and closed the door, the charging port and wifi inside would be powered on and could be used normally. Then, the countdown would begin.
When the time was up, if the customer did not renew the payment, the equipment in the phone booth would automatically be powered off and could no longer be used.
When the customer leaves the phone booth and closes the door, the door will automatically lock when it detects that there is no one in the phone booth.
One could say that the initial functions were very simple. It barely fulfilled the basic functions of the shared phone booth, and the process of using it was not very convenient.
What's more, there were many loopholes that could be exploited. For example, if some people refused to leave, they could continue sitting inside and enjoying free hot water — as long as they were thick-skinned enough.
Not only that, but a large number of items were missing. For example, the drink machine, the jukebox, the AED, the weight scale, and the like were not available for the time being.
The drink machine could not be used for the time being. If customers were allowed to refill their drinks indefinitely, they would definitely incur huge losses. However, if each customer was limited to two free drinks, they would have to purchase a special drink machine. Thus, they could only use free hot water as a substitute for now.
The jukebox had to be discussed with some singing apps, and the equipment had to be purchased together.
As for the AED, they had to be purchased as well. They could not be delivered in a short period of time.
However, Zhang Wang felt that this was a research project after all. It could be slowly perfected and improved in the future.
He had to stand on the ground first and familiarize himself with everyone. He could slowly add these various functions to the phone booth in the future.
The first couple who tried to scan the QR code hesitated outside the shared phone booth and left in the end. They did not pay to enter.
The main reason was that they did not feel that they needed to enter this place, and it was a little expensive.
Compared to this narrow and cramped glass box, they were more willing to look for a coffee shop or a dessert shop. They could spend some money to buy two drinks and rest.
Many people surrounded the shared phone booth to take photos, but for the time being, no one actually scanned the QR code to pay.
After taking a few photos, the crowd that had gathered to watch the commotion dispersed. Some of them went to the nearby milk tea shop to buy drinks, while others went to the cinema.
At this moment, another couple came to the shared phone booth.
The girl's eyes lit up when she saw the phone. "Hey, that phone looks great. Quick, I want to scan the QR code to enter. Quick, take a photo for me!"
The girl scanned the QR code to enter without hesitation. She stood in the shared phone booth and picked up the retro phone hanging on the wall. She struck a few poses.
The boy stood outside the shared phone booth, reluctantly but helplessly. He raised his phone and took a few photos.
"Alright, I'm done."
The boy entered the shared phone booth and showed the girl the photos on his phone.
"Hmm … Your photography skills still need to be improved. Forget it, that's it."
The girl reluctantly accepted the photos and then turned her attention to the inside of the shared phone booth.
It looked slightly crude, but it still looked very sturdy.
"There are bestsellers, comics on the bookshelf, free paper cups, free hot water …"
The girl looked around at all the items and was silent for a moment. "I spent ten yuan just to take a few photos, rest for a while, and drink two cups of hot water … What a loss."
The boy silently picked up a comic from the bookshelf. "I'll take it as an IQ tax."
The girl: "… Are you saying that my IQ is low?"
…
Diagonally across from the shared phone booth, in a dessert shop.
Zhang Wang and He Desheng drank their drinks as they kept an eye on the shared phone booth.
"It's been three hours since the mall opened in the morning."
"It attracted a lot of attention, but the only one who paid was the girl who posed for the photo."
He Desheng sighed softly. "That's why I advised you not to rush. Wait until all the functions of the shared phone booth are complete and the artistic design is in place before you move it to a big mall."
"It would be strange if users would buy a semi-finished product like that.
"After all, it looks like the price-performance ratio of the shared phone booth is too poor. Once you enter, you can only sit and read comics and drink some free hot water. What's more, it costs ten yuan for fifteen minutes and forty yuan for an hour. That's enough to surf the net for four hours at Fish-Catching Internet Cafe.
"The most important beverage machine, jukebox, and the like are not there yet."
Zhang Wang's gaze was firm. "That's alright. Once the various supporting facilities of the shared phone booth are installed, everyone will understand the price.
"So … how are the artists? I'm more concerned about that."
He Desheng shook his head. "I've asked around, but I haven't found anyone suitable. After all, Jingzhou is not like Beijing or Shanghai, where there are so many big names …
"However, I think Boss Pei should have a way. Tengda's main business is making games after all. He must be able to contact some famous artists.
"But … we're almost out of budget. If we ask Boss Pei to fork out more money to find an artist, would he be disgusted …?"
Zhang Wang said firmly, "I'll talk to Boss Pei then! I believe Boss Pei will understand. "
He Desheng remained silent for a moment. "Yes, that's true. You just have to tell Boss Pei about the final form of the shared phone booth. I believe Boss Pei will understand."
Zhang Wang shook his head. "That won't do. I'm an honest man. I have to report what the project is like now.
"Boss Pei trusts me so much. How can I lie to him?!
"I believe Boss Pei will appreciate my honesty!
"Appreciate your honesty … What a naive thought." He Desheng held his forehead. "Alright. If this was Fu Hui Investments, you wouldn't be able to get any money like this.
"However, Boss Pei has always been discerning. He might be lenient …"
He Desheng had wanted to give Zhang Wang some advice at first. However, on further thought, he realized that he had no right to give advice …
He had not even learned one ten-thousandth of Boss Pei's investment skills. Zhang Wang had already made a project that Boss Pei had approved of.
Whatever, he couldn't care less …
He Desheng changed the topic. "The manufacturers in charge of the shared phone booths, the karaoke application, and the beverage machine manufacturers have all replied to me. There shouldn't be a big problem now that the money is in place. The first batch of AED defibrillators is also on the way."
Zhang Wang nodded. "On top of that, the application has to be perfected.
"All in all, once the artists are in place and the purchased items have arrived, we can announce the official start of the shared phone booths' operations!
"I'll give Boss Pei a call first."
Zhang Wang took out his phone and called Boss Pei.
Then, in a calm tone, he reported the current situation of the phone booth in detail.
…
On the other end of the line, Pei Qian broke out in cold sweat when he heard that Zhang Wang had opened the shared phone booths in the shopping mall.
But then, he felt much more at ease.
According to Zhang Wang, he had modified the structure of the shared phone booths, made them bigger, and placed them in the shopping mall.
However, so far, he had set them up for the entire morning. Only one girl had scanned the QR code for the booth and earned 15 yuan.
The initial investment for the shared phone booths was about forty thousand yuan. The rent for the space alone was close to a thousand yuan a month.
Of course, Zhang Wang also mentioned briefly that he was' working hard to improve the customer's consumer experience. He believed that results would be seen very soon '.
Finally, Zhang Wang got to the point. He hoped that Boss Pei could help him find an artist to paint the front of the shared phone booths and add some artistic flair to the shared phone booths.
At this point, Pei Qian realized that the prospects of the shared phone booths were better than he had imagined!
According to his original plan, he would invest less than ten thousand yuan and place the shared phone booths by the roadside. He would only lose about ten thousand yuan at most if the shared phone booths were placed there for half a year.
He might even be able to recoup some of the costs if he dismantled the shared phone booths and sold the metal and glass.
However, based on the current situation, he would definitely lose about fifty thousand yuan if he placed the shared phone booths for half a year!
If he could lose that much from one shared phone booths, what about a hundred?
At that thought, Pei Qian felt energized. He almost decided to give Zhang Wang five million yuan and ask him to build a hundred shared phone booths!
However, on further thought, his rationality overcame his emotions.
Zhang Wang had said that he was' working hard to improve the consumer experience of the customers, and he believed that results would be seen very soon '. Although it sounded like a polite remark, a perfunctory excuse to deceive the leader, and it was very untrustworthy, Pei Qian still felt uneasy.
That was because many of his employees had said similar things, and almost all of them had come true.
At that thought, Pei Qian decisively controlled the demons in his heart. He felt that he should not believe his employees' one-sided words so easily.
"Take a picture of the shared phone booth and send it to me."
A moment later, the picture arrived.
Pei Qian took a look and realized that the shared phone booth looked huge, but it was very simple on closer inspection.
What's more, there was only a table, two folding chairs that could be folded to the wall, a few lonely books on the bookshelf, and a simple looking water dispenser.
A few people were watching, but it was obvious that they were not interested in entering.
You didn't lie to me; it really is that quiet.
I was right about him. It's rare to see such an honest employee!
Pei Qian was very happy. Since he had said that he wanted an artist, he had to find a way to satisfy him!
Coincidentally, Ruan Guangjian was in Jingzhou.
Pei Qian considered for a moment. "Should I ask Ruan Guangjian to paint a huge oil painting? The kind that's two meters tall? According to his current offer, it shouldn't be too much to pay him fifty thousand yuan, right?
"What's more, no matter how good the painting is, everyone would at most take pictures outside and watch. It would not directly affect the income of the shared phone booth.
"Eh? If one phone booth costs fifty thousand yuan, wouldn't ten phone booths cost five hundred thousand yuan?
"That's a good idea!"
Pei Qian had thought that this was ridiculous at first, but after some analysis, he realized that this was a pleasant surprise. It was a good opportunity to spend money!
Asking Ruan Guangjian to paint twenty phone booths would mean spending a million yuan in an instant.
Even if Ruan Guangjian insisted on a friendship price, it would cost at least five hundred thousand yuan, right?
He just did not know if the big boss's body could take it. In any case, Boss Pei's money was not a problem at all.
At that thought, Pei Qian immediately said, "Alright, I'll take care of the artist.
"On top of that, I'll invest another five hundred thousand yuan into the original twenty phone booths. Not one less!"
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